Drop pit



April 28, 1931,.

H. K. CHRISTIE DROP PIT Filed Feb. 17, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 28, 1931- H. K. CHRISTIE 1,802,592

DROP PIT Filed Feb. 17. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 1931- H. K. CHRISTIE DROP PIT Filed Feb. 17,

1930 3 Sheets-Sheet (5 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 STATES irueri K. onnIsTIn, or HARVEY, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO w -IITInGooRRonATIoN, or Y HARVEY,- ILLINOIs, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS DROP PIT Application filed February 17, 1930. Serial No. 428,866.

The invention relates to drop pits of the type used in connection with railway rolling stock. In drop pits which extend under and intersect two or more tracks with drop tables operable by a jack traversing the pit to raise and lower structures from the rolling stock, these tables are of limited width, and it is necessary in some instances to provide recesses which project laterally beyond the table so a structure which projects from the table, such as a booster truck, could be lowered from or raised to the locomotive, and for this purpose,,it has been proposed to use wheeled trucks to carry rail-sections to bridge the recesses between the floor rails and the rails on the table. These trucks were heavy in construction, to support the rail-sections while the locomotive was passing over the track, and recesses of considerable height so were necessary to accommodate these wheeled trucks.

The objects of the presentinvention are tov provide an improved drop pit in which provision is made for receiving booster trucks :5 or structures which have portions projecting from one or both ends of the table and in which the space between the table and the side of the pit is bridged by separately movable rail-sections which can be shifted into and out of bridgingposition without using a wheeled structure for supporting them, to reduce the height of the recesses necessary in practice; to provide an equipment of this character in which the rail-sections for bridging the space between the table and the floorrails may be pivotally swung into-and out of bridging position; to provide an equipment of this character in which these rail-sections are pivoted but supported by the pit struci ture; to provide an improved equipment for this purpose which is simple in construction,

can be produced ata low cost, and in which the depthof the recesses for the overhanging portion OI" the structure lowered on the top table may be reduced to the practical minimum; and other objects which will appear from the detailed description.

, The invention consists in the several novel to re'atures hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspec tive of a ,drop pin embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the pit, the drop table being raisedand supported by the lifting jack. Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the drop table, with a load thereon, lowered and the rail-section's for bridging the recesses between the drop table and the floor rails swung into position to clear said recesses. Fig. 4: is a plan, the rail-sections for bridging the recesses between the table and the floor rails being shown in position to clear the recesses. Fig. 5 is, a detail, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing one of the pivoted structures, including a rail-section thereon. Fig.6 is a horizontal section on line 6-'6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7Tof Fig. 5. Fig; 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 5.

The invention is exemplified in an e uipment usually installed in a roundhouse and comprising, a vertical pit E extendingbelow from the floorlevel, usually to intersect a number of tracks; a drop table F adapted to be raised and lowered in the pit and transported transversely of the tracks, a suitable screw-jack G for raising and lowering and transporting the table and a track formed by rails a laid on the floor andterminating at the recesses, rails f, carried and terminating at the sides of the table, and rail-sections 0 adapted to extend between rails or on the floor of the house and the table and tobridge the recesses E respectively which are formed in the floor at the sides of the upper portion of the pit to receive a portion of a structure lowered with and projecting from the ends of the table. f

A pair of rail-sections c is provided to bridge each recess E or space between the ends of the floor-rails and the ends of the table-rails f, and these sections are separately movable and supported, so that they may be swung to clear the recesses E to receive the projecting portions of the structure lowered with the table F, and so they can be shifted to bridge said recesses and aligned with the floor-rails a and the table-rails f to provide a continuous track over which a locomotive may run until any desired position thereof is over the table. Each rail 0 is fixed on a supporting structure C comprising a bar 0 on the top of which the rail is secured, an I beam 0 on the top of which the bar 0 is fixedly secured, and a foot-piece or block 0 rigidly secured to and adjacent one end and on the bottom of the beam 0 ,A bracket 0 for each structure C is rigidly secured on the bottom of and at the outer side of a recess E, and a pivot-rod 0 extends vertically through an upper arm c of said bracket and into a slot 0 formed in the lower end of said bracket. The contiguous end of a floor rail a is secured by clamp-lugs a to a lug 0' on the upper end of each bracket 0 Said bracket comprises an end wall 0 and an integral side wall 0 so the bracket will solidly support a structure C. The upper end of pivot-rod 0 extends into a bushing c fixed in the outer end of bar 0, and the rod also extends through a bushing c fixedly held in a bearing-member 0 which is bolted to the bottom of one end of the beam 0 A bearing-washer 0 is interposed between the arm 0 of bracket 0 and the bar 0. The end of each structure C, adjacent the end of a table rail 7', is supported by the block 0 which rests on a plate 0 which is fixed to the bottom-wall of the recess E so that the structure adjacent the drop-table will be vertically rigid when the rail 0 is in its bridging posit-ion. Each plate 0 is formed with a hole 0 to receive a locking pin 0 which is vertically slida le in the block 0?. lVhen said pin is lifted out of the hole 0 each structure C can be swung laterally and outwardly around its pivotrod 0 until it is substantially at right angles to the floor-rails, to clear the recess E. When the structure C is locked to the plate 0 by pin 0, the rail 0 will'be suitably supported in its bridging position, so a locomotive can be run over the track onto the table F. A stop shoulder 0 is formed at the inner side of each plate 0 to position the structure C so its rail 0 will be aligned with the contiguous floor rail. To prevent the load on the rail 0 from imparting shearing or bending stresses to the pivot-rod 0 the latter has its lower end yieldingly held by a bolt 0 which is slidable in a cap-plate 0 on the lower arm of bracket 0 and a spring 0 This permits the lower end of rod c to yield sufiiciently to permit the free end of the structure C to rest solidly on the plate 0 when it is in its bridging position, particularly when the rails c are carrying a load. VJ hen the load is removed from the structures C and they are swung laterally, the pressure of the springs 0 will be applied to the pivot rod 0. to lift the free end of the structures C suficiently to clear the floor of the recess. The construction described exemplifies structures carrying railsections which are individually or separately movable from bridging position into position to clear the recess to receive a load; which are pivotally held so they may be conveniently swung from bridging to open positions and vice versa; in which the structures are solidly supported so the rails 0 will support the load passing over them and without subjecting the pivots to breaking stresses.

The drop table F is separable from the jack G, and is equipped with four horizontally slidable bolts f which are guided in blocks f fixed between the beams f of the droptable. These bolts are connected by links 7 to levers f on a cross-shaft 7, which has fixed thereto levers f by which the bolts ma be simultaneouslyshiftedto proj ectbeyond the table or withdrawn to permit the table to be lowered. Each structure C is provided with a plate 0 having a slot 0 adapted to receive a bolt P, so that when the bolts f are in their projected position, they will be in said slots and supported by said plates on said structures, so that the drop-table F will be supported from the structure C. These bolts also lock the table against lateral movement to keep the table-rails f aligned with the rail-sections c and the floor rails a. The drop-table F and the jack G may be of the construction set forth in Reissue Patent No. 17,116. This exemplifies a construction in which the drop-table may be supported independently of the jack by pivotally mounted structures 0.

The operation is as follows:

When the drop-table and structures C between the floor-rails and the table are in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the track will be continuous, so that a locomotive may be driven into position over the table to bring its booster truck into position to be removed therefrom. Said structures C at such time are locked in their bridging position by lockpins 0 and the table F is supported from and locked to such structures so that the rails 7 will be aligned with the floor rails a and railsections 0. The table F will then be raised by the ack G to permit the booster truck to be disconnected from the locomotive. The slots 0 in plates 0 permit this movement while the table remains locked to structures C. When the table F, with the booster truck, has been lifted and the truck has been disconnected from the locomotive, the bolts 7 will be withdrawn from plates 0 by the operation of one of the levers F. The structures C will then be unlocked for pivotal movement by withdrawing the locking pins 0 from the holes 0 in plates 0". The structures C will then be swung outwardly into position indicated by full lines in Fig. 4; to clear the recess E in the pit under the portions of the booster truck which project beyond the table, so the truck can be lowered into position indicated in Fig. 8. After the jack G has been operated to lower the table eeaaae F with the booster truck thereon, into position shown in Fig. 3, the jack and the table with the truck thereon, will be driven transversely of the track floor, the. jack being provided with wheels and propelling mechanism for this purpose, until the table F is in alignment with another track intersected by the pit or until it has cleared the locomotive so it will be accessible from above and can be raised to floor level by the jack, The booster truck can be replaced by reverse operation of the table andjack, and after that the structures C will be swung into and locked in bridging position to complete the track .so the locomotive can be run off the table. 7 The invention exemplifies an equipment in which the pit is extended beyond the endsof the table or to provide recesses to receive structures on and projecting from the table lowered from the locomotive, so the load can be moved transversely, and in which the re cesses between the table and the fixed floorrails are bridged by structures which are 1ndependently movable to clear the spaces tor the transverse movement of the pro ecting portions in which the rail-sections for bridging these recesses are pivotally supported adjacent the ends of the floor rails and can be swung outwardly and laterally to extend transversely of the track to clear the recesses; in which the bridgingstructures are solidly supported and locked in their brldging position; in which the individually movable structures are adapted to sustain the droptable independently of the jack; and in which the recesses may be of minimum height, having regard to theprojecting portions of the truck to be handled by the table; and which can be manufacturedat a low cost.

While the structure illustrated is equipped with a recess at either end of the drop-table, it will be understood that the invention may be utilized in a pit formed with a recess formed only at one end of the drop-table F.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, slnce these mav be modified within the scope of the apperided claims, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the lnventlon. Having thus described the invention, what ters Patent, is: V

1. The combination of a vertlcall y movable drop-table having rails thereon, a plt 1n whlch the table can be lowered and extending be-- yond one end or" the table to provide a space to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor-rails leading to the pit, and separately movable supports, each carrying a rail-section for bridging the space between the floor rails and the table.

2. The combination ofa vertically movable drop-table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered and extending I claim as new and desire to secure by Letsections for bridging the space between the floor rails and the table, and movable to clear the space, and means for separately supporting the movable rail-sections in their bridg ing position. i

8. The combination of a vertically movable drop-table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end ofthe table and adjacent the floor level, to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor-rails leading to the recess, and separate movable supports, each carrying a rail section for bridging the space between the floor rails and the table and movable to clear said space.

4. The combination of a vertically movable drop-table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending'beyondone endof the table and adjacent the fioorlevel to receive the laterally projecting portion of .a structure lowered with the table, floor-rails leading to the recess, movable rail-sectionsiorbridging the recess between the door rails and the table, movable to clear said recess, and means for separately supporting the movable rail sections from the bottom of the recess .when they are in bridging position.

5. Thecombination of a vertically movable drop-table'having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered and extending beyondone end of the table to provide a space for a receiving the lateral-1y projecting portion .of astructure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the pit, and rail-sections for bridging the space between the ends of the rails and the table rails pivoted to swing in position to clear said space.

6. The combination of a vertically movable drop ta-ble having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered and extending beyond one end of the table to provide a space to receive the'laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the pit, and a pair of supports, each carrying a rail section for bridging the space between the ends of the rails and the table, and pivoted to swing in position to clear said space.

7. The combination of a vertically movable drop -table having rails thereon, apit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the fioor'level to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the pit, a pair of rail-sections for bridging the space between the ends of the rails andthe table and supports for'the rail-sections pivotedto swinglaterally toclear said space.

8. The combination of a vertically movable drop-table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the floor level, to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the pit, a pair of separately movable supports, each carrying a rail-section for bridging the space between the ends of the rails and the table rails, pivoted to swing into position to clear said space, and supported from the bottom of the recess.

9. The combination of a vertically movable drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, extending beyond one end of the table to provide a space for receiving the laterally projecting portion of a structure on the table, floor rails leading to the pit, a pair of supports each carrying a rail-section for bridging the space between the floor rails and one end of the table, and mounted to swing laterally on an axis adjacent the end of a floor-rail.

10. The combination of a vertically movable drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered and extending beyond one end of the table to pro- Vide a space for receiving the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor-rails leading to the pit, and a pair of supports, each carrying a rail-section for bridging the space bet-ween the floor rails and one end of the table, pivoted at one end to swing laterally on an axisadjacent a floor rail, and means for locking the supports in position to hold the rail-sections thereon in bridging position.

11. The combination of a vertically movable drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the floor level, for receiving the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the. recess, a pair of rail-sections for bridging the space between the floor rails and the ends of the rails on the table, each pivoted at one end to swing laterally on an axis adjacent one end of a floor rail, and means for supporting the other ends of the rail sections from the bottom of the recess, when said sections are in bridging position.

12. The combination of a vertically movable drop-table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the floor level, to provide a recess to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the recess, and a pair of supports, each carrying a rail-section for bridging the space between the floor rails and one end of the table, pivoted at one end to swing laterally on an axis adjacent the end of a floor rail to clear the recess, and means for supporting the other end of the railsection from the bottom of the pit.

13. The combination of a vertically movable droptable having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the fioor level to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor-rails leading to the pit, a pair of supports in the recess, each carrying a rail-section to bridge the recess and pivoted so it can be swung to clear the recess, and means for holding said supports against pivotal movement.

14. The combination of a vertically movable drop table. having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the floor level to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the pit, a pair of supports in the recess, each carrying a rail-section to bridge the recess and pivoted at one end so it can be swung to clear the recess, and devices for individually locking the supports against pivotal movement.

15. The combination of a vertically movable drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the floor level to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the pit, a pair of supports in the recess, each carrying a rail-section to bridge the recess and pivoted so it can be swung to clear the recess, and means for locking the table to and supporting it from said supports.

16. The combination of a vertically movable drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the fioor level to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the pit, a pair of supports in the recess, each carrying a rail section to bridge the recess and pivoted at one end so it can be swung to clear the recess, means for locking the supports against pivotal movement, and means for locking the table to and supporting it from said supports.

17. The combination of a vertically movable drop-table, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided witha recess extending beyond one end or" the table and adjacent the floor level for receiving the. laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor-rails leading to the pit, a pair of rail-sections for bridging the recess between the floor rails and one end of the table, and supports for said rail-sections, each comprising a beam under the rail, brackets mounted in the recess, to which the supports are pivotally connected, and means at the other end of the beam to transmit the load stresses on the support to the bottom of the recess.

18. The combination of a vertically movable drop table, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the floor level for receiving the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the pit, a pair of rail sections for bridging the recess between the floor rails and one end of the table, and pivoted supports for said rail sections, having solid means to transmit the load stresses to the bottom of the recess.

19. The combination of a vertically movable drop table, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the floor level for receiving the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor railsleading to the pit, a pair of rail-sections for bridging the recesses between the floor rails and one end of the table, brackets in the recesses, and supports for said rail-sections each loosely pivoted to one of the brackets, and comprising a beam under the rail-sections.

20. The combination of a vertically movable drop table, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided with a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the floor level for receiving the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to the pit, a pair of rail-sections for bridging the recesses between the floor rails and one end of the table, brackets in the recesses, and supports for said rail-sections each loosely pivoted to one of the brackets, and comprising a beam under the rail sections, and a rest block for each beam.

21. The combination of a vertically mov able drop table, a pit in which the table can be lowered, provided With a recess extending beyond one end of the table and adjacent the floor level for receiving the laterally projecting port-ion of a structure lowered with the table, floor-rails leading to the pit, a pair of: rail-sections for bridging the recesses between the floor rails and one end of the table, a pair of brackets for supporting one end of the rail-section, supports for the sections pivotally connected to the brackets, and rest plates for said supports on the bottom of the recess.

22. The combination ofa vertically movable drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table may be lowered, provided with recesses, extending beyond both ends of the table to receive the laterally projecting portions of a structure lowered with the table, floor-rails leading to both sides of the pit, and pairs of rail-sections for bridging the spaces respectively, pivoted to swing and clear said spaces.

23. The combination of a vertically movable drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table may be lowered, provided withrecesses extending beyond both ends of the table to receive the laterally projecting portions of a structure lowered with the table, floor rails leading to both sides of the pit, and pairs of rail-sections for bridging the spaces respectively, separately pivoted so they can be swung to clear the recesses.

24. The combination of a vertically movable drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table may be lowered provided with recesses extending beyond both ends of the table to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table,

floor rails leading to both sides of the pit,

pairs of rail-sections for bridging the spaces respectively, and supports for the rail sections pivoted to swing laterally to clear said spaces 25. The combination of a vertically movable drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which'the table may be lowered provided with recesses extending beyond both ends of the table to receive the laterally projecting portion of a structure lowered with the table, floor-rails leading to both sides of the pit, pairs of rail-sections for bridging the spaces respectively, supports for the rail-sections pivoted to swing laterally to clear said spaces, and means for locking the table to and sup porting it from the pivotally movable supports.

26. The combination of a vertically mov able drop table having rails thereon, a pit in which the table may be lowered extending 1 beyond both ends of the table to provide recesses into which laterally projecting portions of a structure on the table can be lowered, floor-rails leading to both sides of the pit, pairs of rail-sections for bridging the I spaces respectively, and separate supports for the rail-sections movable to swing into position to clear said spaces.

Signed at Harvey, Illinois, this 10th day of February, 1930.

HUGH K. CHRISTIE. 

